SHAH ALAM: The Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) Shah Alam Line, spanning 37.8 kilometres from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia, has been fully completed and is now ready for passenger service.
Shah Alam line chief Mohd Ariffin Idris confirmed that the line's official launch, which is expected to benefit some two million residents along its corridor, will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a ceremony on Sunday, June 28.
He added that the Prime Minister will announce the commercial opening date and time for the 20-station route during the event.
"The new stations are Bandar Utama, Kayu Ara, BU 11 (Bandar Utama 11), Damansara Idaman, Subang, Glenmarie 2, Kerjaya, Stadium Shah Alam, Dato' Menteri, and UiTM Shah Alam.
"The remaining 10 stations are Seksyen 7 Shah Alam, Bandar Baru Klang, Pasar Klang, Jalan Meru, Jambatan Kota, Taman Selatan, Seri Andalas, Klang Jaya, Bandar Bukit Tinggi, and Johan Setia," he told reporters during a recent pre-opening media ride on the new service.
Passengers will enjoy seamless transfers, Mohd Ariffin explained, with connections to the Kajang Line at Bandar Utama and to the Kelana Jaya Line at Glenmarie 2.
To make commuting even easier, the network is supported by 40 feeder buses operating across 13 routes with 323 stops, all for just RM1 per ride, from 6am to 11.30pm.
"We also offer Rapid On-Demand van services, with 44 vans serving 20 zones at RM2 per trip, available during the same operating hours," he said.
He added that both feeder bus routes and van services will be fine-tuned based on commuter demand and travel patterns once the Shah Alam Line is up and running.
For those driving, parking is available at the Kayu Ara, Damansara Idaman, Pasar Besar Klang, Sri Andalas, Bandar Bukit Tinggi, and Johan Setia stations, with a total of 2,300 bays.
Looking ahead, Mohd Ariffin revealed that Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) is aiming for 67,000 daily passengers in the first year, with that figure expected to surge to 117,708 per day within five years.
The Shah Alam Line is also embracing sustainability, he said, with green features such as inverter-based air conditioning for light rail vehicles and smart cooling systems.
Station designs have been carefully planned to maximise natural airflow and daylight, cutting down on energy use.
Accessibility is another key priority, with all stations equipped with ramps for wheelchair users, disability-compliant toilets, and reserved seating for persons with disabilities in every carriage.
As for the Tropicana, Raja Muda, Temasya, Bukit Raja and Bandar Botanik stations slated for reconstruction, Mohd Ariffin confirmed that work will get underway by the end of this year. - Bernama
